FIG 5.

The nasal vestibule represents the predominant reservoir of S. aureus during colonization. The results for naturally S. aureus-positive macaque body sites (i.e., sites positive not due to experimental inoculation of the nostrils) collected over an 18-month period are shown. **, elevated S. aureus load compared to all other sites (P < 0.0001); *, S. aureus load greater than that in the axilla, hands, and vagina (P < 0.005). Error bars indicate the mean and SEM. The dotted horizontal line indicates the limit of S. aureus detection (10 CFU/swab). L, left; R, right.